This packing list for Kailasha Mansarovar Yatra is suitable for pilgrims who are going via China route. It involves only 2 days of trekking. Rest of the days are spent on a fantastic road trip through picturesque locales. Continue reading for an exhaustive list of things to pack for the epic Kailash Mansarovar yatra, a high altitude trek in China via India and Nepal.

Wearing Columbia jacket at Deraphuk helped as it was chilly even in the day. Behind is the ethereal North Face of Mount Kailash. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China Pic by: Swati Jain

PACKING ADVICE FOR KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA IN CHINA

Packing for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra was not easy. It is never easy when you are planning a high altitude trek where you will be trekking as high as 18,000 plus feet. I remember how I was a nervous wreck when I had planned my Roopkund Trek and Everest Base Camp trek. The former was my first high altitude trek and me and my friends Vipul and Srikanth spent many days in malls just buying stuff and exchanged many mails discussing what we should buy and what we already have and what we can share to keep the costs low.

Gauri Kund was the most visually stunning place near Dolma La Pass on the second day of the parikrama. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China Pic by: Swati Jain

With some experience now, I was better prepared to pack for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China. Despite being given a packing list by Scout My Trip, the road expert I traveled with, I ended up packing more than I should have. A packing list is never the same for everyone.

Different people have different needs and at times we tend to over-pack fearing lack of facilities and shops at such hostile terrains. That said, it still helps big-time to hear it from someone who has already been there. I would have been lost had Scout My Trip not shared a packing list with me. It matched more than 95 % of my requirements. I skipped some things because I knew I would not need them. I have mentioned it in brackets below. I over packed some things, owing to the fear of unknown. I hope the below list helps you pack. This packing list for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is suitable for all genders and most age groups. I am sure you know what to add and what to drop from this list. If you still have any questions, do let me know in the comment section below, I will immediately solve those queries.

Me wearing my Columbia jacket, pants and backpack. The backpack is the best one I have owned till now. This is Yam Dwar, beginning of the parikrama. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China Pic by: Swati Jain

DUFFLE BAG OR BACKPACK?

KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA PACKING LIST

Before we left Kathmandu in Nepal, for the Kailasha Manasarovar Yatra, we were handed over one duffle bag for each person where we could keep all our luggage which we would need throughout the yatra (trip). The content of this luggage was supposed to cover all our needs from Kyirong to Kyirong, the border town in China.

Since I was more comfortable in packing my belongings in the super sturdy and spacious Columbia backpack, I opted for the latter and chose not to use the duffle bag. I like to have control on my belongings and prefer carrying it myself. In case you are opting for the duffle bag, please put an identification mark on the bags. In fact, it is advisable to have an identification mark or name tag for all your bags.

However, if you want to opt for duffle bag, make sure you keep the day essentials in a daypack. The duffle bag will be taken from you in the morning and will be given to you in the evening every day. So decide wisely.

Kyirong was not too cold in the day. So the cool Columbia T shirts helped me stay sweat free (Thanks to Omni Wick technology) as I explored the small Chinese town near the border to Nepal. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China Pic by: Swati Jain

DUMP THE EXTRA LUGGAGE IN KATHMANDU

Cleverly, I had kept one set of the shirts, trousers and undergarments and any other extra luggage in the Royal Singhi hotel in Kathmandu. I knew I would use all my packed clothes and will have a messy bag upon return from the arduous journey to Kailasha Manasarovara Trek. So, it was wise to keep a fresh pair separate. It was kept safe in the hotel. Unessential items I dumped in Kathmandu were fat books (why I have to carry them on treks! Always!), all jeans (too thick and heavy), a speaker (like really?), clothes soiled till now (India to Nepal) etc.

We were also instructed to carry an extra daypack for both the parikrama days. However, I chose to carry my Columbia backpack, which weighed around 10 kgs after packing. But I will not advise others to carry more than 5 kgs on the parikrama days. My bag was heavier because I had lots of camera equipments and other contraptions as well for shooting videos and images.

COMPLETE LIST OF THE PARIKRAMA DAY PACKING:

Parikrama day backpack (30-40L)

Food such as dates, chocolates, dry fruits. Though, Madhuban Foods will give you excellent home-made Indian vegetarian lunch (We got Methi thepla and aaluu jeera – delicious and filling) for the parikrama, you should still carry some more dry snacks for the parikrama on both days. On first day, you will find some tea shops midway. On second day too some tea shops are set up high in the mountains. But it takes a while to reach them and the food served is not as per the Indian taste.

My first glimpse of Mount Kailash (during parikrama). It was magical. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China

Water Bottle: At least 2-3 litres of water per person. You can refill the water bottle from a gushing river like I did. I did not use a filter bottle because the water was pure and clean. If you are still not comfortable drinking from the river (like a girl from Singapore I offered it to), you can carry a water bottle which purifies water as well.

Me refiling water bottle as I descended on the second day of the parikrama. River water is fresh and good to drink. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China Pic by: Swati Jain

Electral: I normally mix it in the water I am carrying.

Diamox: On second day, you will reach the Dolma La Pass (and Gauri Kund) which is the highest pass at 18,600 feet. It is not an easy altitude to be on even for the best of us. So it’s better to continue the diamox routine till at least the end of the parikrama.

The small tea house on the second day of the parikrama. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China.

A raincoat or water proof cover for bagpack. Though my Columbia backpack was already water proof, I still wanted to protect its exterior from water. I wore a poncho which really helped me cover from rain on the first day of the parikrama. Not only did it keep my backpack externally dry but also saved my electronic and clothes. Though I was carrying water proof Columbia backpack, I still needed to cover my pant and shirt.

DO NOT carry any clothes for change during parikrama days. It is unnecessary baggage as the real trek aka parikrama is only for 2 days if you are going via the China route. I suggest on day 1 wear fresh clothes after bath and wear the same clothes for the next 2 days. Change the clothes when you finish the parikrama at Darchen which has Hot Showers in semiluxurious hotels. During the parikrama your only stay will be in Deraphuk which has really basic stay facilities and no shower area (as on 2018).

Paper soaps and toilet papers. You might have to answer nature’s call in the open, so be prepared.

Wear proper clothes. I wore 1 vest topped by Columbia inners followed by1 thin and quick dry Columbia T shirt, a sweater and 1 Columbia jacket. You may add or reduce more layers as per the weather on the day of your parikrama and your preference. Maybe carry an extra sweater in backpack.

A muffler. It is light and multi-purpose. I always carry one.

Trekking poles. You will need this even if your colony kids call you ‘He Man’ or ‘Indiana Jones.’

Saga was a quirky little town in China on the way to Mansarovara. Most people get hit by AMS here, so acclimatisation in Saga is advised. Yes, of course, that’s a dance bar behind. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China.

Most of the products I used were carefully picked from the Columbia sportswear store at Mall Of India, Noida. Do check out their good quality adventure gears and other products here

PACKING CHECKLIST TIPS FOR THE ENTIRE

KAILASHA MANSAROVAR YATRA

Food-I love carrying Indian snacks such as Khakhra, Bhakarwadis, Aalu Bhujia, Banana chips etc. Since except 2 days you will mostly be traveling in buses or cars (depending upon your package), so must carry some food with you especially on days when the drive is long such as Kyirong to Saga and Saga to Mansarovar. Madhuban Foods will give you packed Indian vegetarian lunches on all days. Expect to enjoy Puri, Sabzi, Pulao, fruit juices and fruits like apples daily facilitated by Indian company Madhuban Foods. (They served Rahul Gandhi too when he embarked upon the journey) They are sensitive to the needs of Indian pilgrims and will always provide you healthy, nutritious, vegetarian Indian meals through the journey and stops.

Dressed from top to bottom in Columbia sportwear and relishing brilliant vegetarian (No onion, no garlic) Indian food at the Mansarovar kitchen of Madhuban Foods. Indian politician and the Gandhi scion also ate here during their visit a few days after I left. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China Pic by: Swati Jain

Hot water bottle: I suggest fill one or two water bottle from the Madhuban Foods kitchen before you start the journey. They have large hot water tanks installed for pilgrims at each of the 7 stops. I personally prefer room temperature water, so I didn’t carry any hot water flask with me.

Hot water bag

Backpack: If you chose to carry backpack instead of duffle bags, your best bet is Trail Elite™ 55L Backpack by Columbia. It is easily the best backpack I have used thus far. It is also the lightest and most airy I have ever used. What the back draft tensioned back panel does is that it keeps the back away from the bag, allowing room for air circulation and ventilation, thus making trekking comfortable for you. Technology at its best! The sternum strap with load filter adjustability makes it a cushy job to carry this backpack. The design of the backpack is such that it is easy to find your things. Thanks to the numerous compartments, I can segregate my socks, undergarments, toiletries, electronics, clothes and soiled linen. The strategically positioned zips made it really easy for me to find any item. It also helped me at various security checkpoints in Nepal, India and China. In Nepal, as we entered the National parks, our bags were examined many times. All I had to do was unzip the central zip which would expose the contents of my bag. This saved me from manually taking out each item from the bag and keeping them back.

As I trekked towards Zuthulphuk. Notice that all my clothes (except muffler) are from Columbia sportwears. I vouch for their quality and effectiveness. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China Pic by: Swati Jain

Sunglasses with UV protection: The sun is harsh here

Sunscreen lotion: At least SPF 35 since the sun is unforgiving here. You might not wish to peel off the skin from your nose with the same flair as that emotionless model in the peel off face mask advertisement.

Camera with extra batteries: Before I left Kathmandu, I had charged both the batteries of my DSLR. I bought an extra battery for the trek. Expensive but worth the investment. It will serve me in other treks too where electricity is not available for days on end. Except Kyirong, Saga and Darchen, at all the other places in Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China, you will be able to charge your electronics only for few hours, which can be as low as 2 hours at Deraphuk.

Multiple pin plug and international adapter: See above point.

SD Cards: Make sure you have emptied all the SD cards before you leave India. I carried around 100 GB and used them all.

Good Sturdy Trekking shoes: I carried excellent trekking shoes by Columbia. The quality, as is common with all Columbia products was just what I was looking for. It was the first time I was trekking wearing Columbia shoes and I must say I am going to try only Columbia on all my high altitude treks henceforth. Unlike other trekking shoes Columbia shoes are not heavy and are not leather based. I am very happy to go leather free Kailash Mansarovar Yatra onwards. And since it is also a pilgrimage than a regular trek, leather free shoes make sense. In Hindu temples in India, it is mandatory to keep leather (belt,shoes,wallet) in locker before entering a temple. Mount Kailash is no less than a temple. Got the drift,eh?

And the Columbia shoes also worked on snow. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China Pic by: Swati Jain

The shoes are also waterproof which helped in a big way as I was often required to walk on wet surfaces and in rain. Not on a single day, did I have to suffer wet shoes. It was equally good on snow surfaces. You will have to walk on small patches of snow during the parikrama days.

The grip of the shoes on most terrains was excellent.

I was looking for a good quality leather free shoes fit for high altitude treks. My search ended at the Columbia Sportswear store in mall Of India, Noida. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China Pic by: Swati Jain

Trekking Poles/ sticks: Many people ignore it seeing it as a sign of weakness. But I strongly support the idea of carrying trekking poles while on a trek, high altitude or even otherwise. Not only does it help in distributing your body weight but it also helps you negotiate and balance when trekking on loose rock and snow. I did walk on many rocky patches, puddles of water and on snow as well. My sturdy Columbia shoes and the walking poles/sticks helped me navigate and balance easily. Some people carry two poles at a time, I prefer carrying one as I also have to carry a heavy DSLR camera around my neck all the time.

Just as I started the parikrama. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China Pic by: Swati Jain

Torch light and spare batteries: Head torch is best as you can keep your hands free. This is especially useful when you are going out to answer nature’s call in the pitch dark. At places like Mansarovar and Deraphuk many men and women pilgrims prefer to defecate in the open. So, a head torch comes handy.

Even my co trekker, Mr Sumit wore Columbia jackets and cap through the trek. We joked that even our jackets were of same color. It was of course a co incidence. This was the first day of the parikrama. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China.

CLOTHES TO CARRY ON

KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA:

Columbia Inner Thermals (vest) 2 set (1 if you can manage to wear it on all colder days). The inner or the baselayer by Columbia is the best one I have used so far. It is light in weight, easy to wear and keep you warm. Really warm. It was very useful for the parikrama days.

Carry 2-3 smart casual wears for places with a hint of civilization such as Kyirong, Saga, Darchen, Taklakot aka Purang. Make sure you carry light clothes. For example, the light and quick dry T shirts and pants by Columbia wear were apt for long trips like this. On one of the day in Taklakot, I even washed both the Columbia wears for reuse. It dried in few hours.

Light weight towel: A Bihari gamcha works well or any quick dry towel!

Under Garments (at least 5 sets): Repeat if you can.

1 big Cloth or plastic bag to keep all the soiled linen daily. It helps to compartmentalise the clothes and keeps the dirty ones separate from the clean ones.

What’s cooking? Chefs at work in the Madhuban Foods kitchen in Mansarovar. The vegetarian Indian food was brilliant here. Ask Rahul Gandhi. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China.

Lightweight cotton long loose fitting pants.

Cargos (Note: No jeans please. They are very uncomfortable during this journey)

T-shirts – Carry at least 4 to 5. Again, quick dry light weight T shirts from Columbia saved the day for me. I even washed 2 of the Columbia shirts in aka Purang aka Burang. It dried within few hours and helped me save space by not carrying extra weight. The best feature of Columbia’s ‘Tech’ T shirts is their Omni Wick technology. What it does is that unlike regular cotton T shirts, the body moisture is pulled away and evaporated quickly. This is a great feature for hikers and trekkers as it helps in staying dry. What’s more? You will also be protected from the hazardous ultra violet sun rays with UPF 50. Check out their Tuk Mountain Men’s Short Sleeve Shirts. I liked the orange colored one.

Down jacket (Insulated jacket): I wore my blue Columbia jacket not only throughout the trek/parikrama but through the entire journey. The good looking jacket was appreciated by one and all. The jacket became so popular amongst my co-travelers by the end of the trek that its mention seeped into our conversations every now and then. Some even asked me for its quick review on the location itself. Well, the Bugaboo™ Interchange Jacket by Columbia which I wore was the best I have owned till date. Not only did it keep me warm even without any layers, it also protected me from rain.

The gorgeous Chiu Gompa Monasteery. I had a free day at Mansarovar so I hiked up the monastery. It is an easy 30 minute hike and very close to all the hotels of Mansarovar lake. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China

On one day I had hiked up alone to the ancient Chiu Gompa monastery near Mansarovar lake as my co travelers meditated. While returning, it started raining and I was not carrying any umbrella or rain coat. I was worried about my expensive DSLR camera. I was not even carrying the camera cover. Luckily, I was wearing Columbia’s Bugaboo™ Interchange Jacket. I had no option but to think on my feet. I quickly unzipped my jacket, inserted the camera and zipped it again. My head was protected by the attached water proof cap to the jacket. And the quick dry Columbia pants and shoes which I was wearing left me with zilch worries about dampening my clothes, shoes or spirits. As I arrived inside my hotel room, I quickly unzipped my jacket. Not a single strand of my T shirt or any part of the camera was wet. In that moment I knew I made a wise decision to go for all things Columbia for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

That is me, mesmerised by the timeless beauty of Mount Kailash. This scene was right opposite where we were staying. It is the North face of Mount Kailash. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China Wardrobe: Columbia sportswear. Pic by: Swati Jain

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Wow this post is fantastic for anyone planning a trip to that part of the world. Seems like you made the right choice with buying all your gear from Columbia. I was especially amazed when I read their shirts have a UV protection technology!

Omg! This is such an amazing read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading through this blogpost. Truly appreciate the efforts you had taken to make every point crisp and clear. I never had guts to travel that region but after reading this I can do it. You have made life easy

An excellent blog worth a ton for kmy pilgrimage.I have a few queries.Myself and my wife are travelling by the MEA organised Yatra thro Nathula route. Which involves trekking only around the parikrama.Can you pl advise the essentials I need to carry as I find your list very exhaustive.Besides pl advise if we need to take a medium sized duffle bag or a small suit case for personal belongings apart from a backpack.Regards.viswanathanviswaprema2000@yahoo.com

Thanks for reading and the appreciation. Since you will be trekking only for 2-3 days as you are trekking only for the parikrama, pls ensure that your bag weighs no more than just 5 kgs. I am not sure what your age is, but it is a tough climb till Dolma La Pass, from Dolma La Pass, the climb is downhill and easier.

I had deposited my extra luggage at a hotel in Darchen. My parikrama started from there and I carried only a small bag with essentials like water, snacks, only one set of cloth for emergency and winter wears. It should not weigh more than 5 kgs.

Some people also opt for the pony for carrying themselves and the luggage. It is expensive though and exploitative for the animal.

My advise is that pls drop uour excess luggage at Darchen in a hotel. And pls do not carry any suitcase for the parikranma.

Just carry essentials under 5 kgs (including bag weight) in a bagback.

Hello
All the best for your Yatra. As you are going on a government organised Yztea, do follow their packing list. It is comprehensive.
I went through Lipulekh pass two years ago. I followed the instructions given in the information booklet and had no issues.
Best